[Dog Welder]

I'm going to make a chili and I thought about trying stewed beef cubes. I've never tried this before and have read that to cook stewed beef correctly I need to cook them slow and low for 2-4 hours. If I"m doing this in a chili when do I put the meat in? First? since it takes so long? If I put in in first what do I put it in with, just the tomato sauce? Lastly can I marinate the meat in an acid to help break it down? or will that change the flavor of my chili?

 

[narlus]

i wouldn't marinate it...for slow braised type cooking, i would do this:

take the cubed stew meat, and dust it w/ flour, salt and pepper, shaking off excess.

in a large, flame-proof casserole, brown the meat, in batches if required so you don't crowd the pan. reserve.

then cook yr peppers, celery, onions, etc and when you put in the liquid (tomatoes, beer, whatever), put the meat back in, and lower the heat significantly, and cover.

 

[TreeSaw]

i wouldn't marinate it...for slow braised type cooking, i would do this:

take the cubed stew meat, and dust it w/ flour, salt and pepper, shaking off excess.

in a large, flame-proof casserole, brown the meat, in batches if required so you don't crowd the pan. reserve.

then cook yr peppers, celery, onions, etc and when you put in the liquid (tomatoes, beer, whatever), put the meat back in, and lower the heat significantly, and cover.

Definitely good advice!